log on to thegoan.net @thegoanonline TUESDAY MAY 14, 2024 GOA The Goan E-Paper (Playstore/IOS) 13 pages PRICE ` 10 PANAJI MARGAO GOA VOLUME IX, NO. 327 Instagram.com/thegoanonline RNI: GOAENG/2015/65729 3 13 2 8 OCI status: Secrecy over MEA Dust, rain take Mumbai by corrigendum in HC sparks row storm; 9 dead False hopes: Hazardous waste removal at Cuncolim IDC hits roadblock PLAYER DIES AT LOLIEM TIE-BREAKER Facebook.com/thegoan GOA SPORTS INFO Sewage in drains probable reason for Dongrim water contamination Shooting Olympic trials: Manu, Esha dominate in 25m sports pistol Can tulsi reduce pimples? Ways to use it EXPERTS RAISE QUESTIONS; GOVT ACCUSED OF CONTEMPT CANACONA In a tragic incident, a 41-yearold football enthusiast collapsed while playing in a tie-breaker at Shellim-Loliem and died late Monday evening. According to sources, Royce Fernandes was playing in the tie-breaker tournament organised on the occasion of feast of Our Lady of Fatima Shellim. After winning the third round, Royce, waiting the next round, was standing amongst other players, when he suddenly collapsed. He was immediately rushed to the CHC at Chaudi, where the doctor on duty declared him brought dead. Royce who was working abroad pre-Covid lockdown period is survived by his wife, father and mother and two siblings.    He is suspected to have suffered massive cardiac arrest amidst the soaring temperatures of Monday. A tiatr, which was scheduled for the evening, was postponed. PANAJI The recent controversial shift by the Government of India (GoI) on the citizenship issue has sparked widespread confusion and debate in the State, comprising numerous Portuguese citizenship holders. Experts are also questioning the wisdom of the ministries to withhold crucial updates from the Bombay High Court in Goa even during the final hearing, held a week after the Corrigendum. On May 6, the High Court ruled that OCI registrations can now be accepted with Revocation Certificates, overturning previous rejections based on revoked passports following the April 4 Office Memorandum from the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), and subsequent submissions by the GoI. This ruling followed petitions from two locals whose OCI applications were declined by the Mumbai FRRO due to passport revocation. Although a four-week window was granted for recon- IN SHORT >> 14-year-old girl kidnapped PANAJI: Panaji police have launched a search for a 14-year-old girl who was allegedly kidnapped from her father’s workplace in an upscale area of Dona Paula, where he works as a security guard.  KA auditorium tender after election code PANAJI: With the demolition of Kala Academy’s open-air auditorium completed, the re-development of the stage is slated to commence only after the ongoing model code of conduct is lifted on June 4.  >> See pg 3 67% cast votes in 4th phase of polls NEW DELHI: A voter turnout of over 67% was recorded on Monday in the fourth phase of the Lok Sabha elections covering 96 constituencies spread over 10 states and Union Territories.  >> See pg 7 50 schools receive bomb threat JAIPUR: Over 50 schools in Rajashtan received bomb threats via email, triggering panic among students and their parents, police said. AY THE GOAN I NETWORK M THE GOAN I NETWORK O N 12 Yet to receive official communication: ASG PANAJI: Amidst allegations, Deputy Solicitor General of India Pravin Faldessai asserted that the Corrigendum will be placed before the High Court if needed, while refuting any prior knowledge of its existence. Speaking to The Goan, Faldessai stated that they are still awaiting an official communication from the Ministry of External Affairs regarding the April 30 Corrigendum. “We were unaware of the Corrigendum, sideration of applications, the April 30 Corrigendum was not disclosed during the hearing, which could have possibly influenced the Court ruling. Speaking to The Goan, senior lawyer Cleofato Coutinho except the April 4 office memorandum (which spoke about accepting Revocation Certificate instead of Surrender Certificate). Nothing stopped us from placing it before the High Court. There was no reason to hide it from the Court,” he stated. “We have yet to receive official communication; however, once we get it, it will be submitted to the High Court, if required”, he added. cited the government’s obligation to honour its commitment made before the High Court. However, he noted that the government retains the prerogative to change its stance, with recourse availa- ble to petitioners through legal channels. Coutinho also insisted that the MEA can only modify its position once there’s legal clarity in the matter. The prime question however re- Testing time for garbage cleanup Govt stops financial Govt aid insufficient, aid to panchayats claim sarpanchas THE GOAN I NETWORK MAPUSA In a significant policy shift, the government has ceased financial aid to village panchayats across the State for tackling the persistent issue of garbage accumulation. The Director of Panchayats, Siddhi Halarnakar, communicated this decision via a memorandum addressed to the Block Development Officers (BDOs), instructing them to direct all panchayats to utilize grants from the Fourteenth and Fifteenth Finance Commission for garbage management within their respective jurisdictions. Citing the failure of panchayats to effectively utilize central grants, Halarnakar clarified that the State government has discontinued the provision of garbage grants for the current financial year, 2024-25. This marks a departure from the previous practice wherein financial assistance was extended to village panchayats under The Goa Panchayats (Grants to Tackle Garbage Menace) Scheme 2017. Under this scheme, all 191 village panchayats were annually granted Rs 2 lakh each to support door-todoor collection, segregation, and disposal of waste, including dry and plastic waste. Panchayats were categorized based on their location, including those situated along the coastal belt, in proximity to the airport, suburban areas, and those with annual incomes up to Rs 25 lakh. The overarching objective of the scheme was to empower panchayats to efficiently manage garbage within their jurisdictions by adopting measures for collection, segregation, treatment, and >Continued on P5 THE GOAN I NETWORK MAPUSA Several current and former sarpanchas have voiced concerns over the inadequacy of government grants to tackle garbage issues in their villages, stating that the funding provided falls significantly short of the actual expenses incurred. According to their statements, the grants have been discontinued for at least 3 years, leaving panchayats to bear the burden of waste management costs. Former sarpanch of Bastora, Savio Martins, emphasized the disparity between government assistance and the actual expenses, stating, “The government had stopped the grants for garbage management at least three years back. Five years back we were getting some financial assistance from the government but that was a pittance compared to what we had to spend to tackle waste management in the village.” Jalindhar Gaonkar, former sarpanch of Assagao, echoed Martins’ sentiments, noting that the grants provided by the government were insufficient and unpredictable. “The government was giving us Rs 2 lakh but we were spending Rs 25 lakh and above to tackle the waste menace,” Gaonkar stated. Calangute panchayat secretary, Arjun Velip, highlighted the financial strain faced by panchayats, revealing that the practice of issuing financial grants for garbage management was halted three years ago. “The Calangute panchayat spends around Rs 18 lakh per month to tackle waste in the village,” Velip disclosed. Meanwhile, Aldona Sarpanch, Ahswin D’Souza, disclosed that his panchayat had resorted to utilizing funds from the 14th Finance Commission to address waste management challenges. Margao’s tiatr scene plays waiting game again THE GOAN I NETWORK MARGAO avindra Bhavan, Margao will miss the May 15 date for resumption of tiatrs as the ongoing renovation work still remains incomplete and many issues await redressal. The Pai Tiatrist auditorium staged the second tiatr show on Monday as part of the trial run, but tiatrists and the audience have called for resolution of the host of issues plaguing the Ravindra Bhavan. The first tiatr was staged on May 10 at the Ravindra Bhavan by director Menino de Bandar as part of the trial run. Ravindra Bhavan Chairman Rajendra Talak, however, R Sound Stage Auditorium Washroom A collage of photos reveals a host of issues that have come to the fore during the trial run of a tiatr that was staged at Ravindra Bhavan.  Santosh Mirajkar was quick to clarify that the ongoing work is in the final stages, assuring that whatever shortcomings that have come to the fore will be overcome in the coming days. As Pascoal De Chicalim staged his tiatr at the Ravindra Bhavan on Monday as part of the trial run, a host of issues came to the fore. In fact, the show had to be halted for a brief period twice due to problems with the curtains. It was also pointed out that the curtains were dusty. While work on the stage is complete, the tiles around the stage are not yet fixed. “We are not condemning, but only highlighting the problems since this was a trial show. We hope the issues will be redressed by the management”, informed Director Pascoal. Another tiatrist underscored the need for a monitor in the Green room for the benefit of artists. “We cannot keep a track of the scene on the stage for want of a monitor. Hope the Ravindra Bhavan restores the monitor at the earliest”, the tiatrist added. It was also pointed out that the hanging mike is yet to fall in place, hoping that Talak, who is a film director, will make the necessary arrangements. Another tiatrist highlighted the issue of the leaking water tap in the Green room, saying the issue needs to be rectified at the earliest. “Since monsoon is fast approaching, the tiatrists are hoping that the ongoing work will be completed and the Pai Tiatrist hall will be available to stage shows”, another tiatrist said, while making a plea to the >Continued on P5 mains: Why did the respondent GoI withhold crucial updates from the High Court? “It is either deliberate suppression of the Corrigendum or genuine miscommunication. Regardless of all this, the Corrigendum should have been placed before the High Court,” Coutinho maintained. Former Advocate General Carlos Ferreira echoed Coutinho’s concerns, accusing the government of contempt of court. “It was your (GoI) duty to inform the High Court about the April 30 Corrigendum. You can’t mislead the court... It is a very, very serious issue and contempt to provide misleading documents to the court,” Ferreira lamented. Consultant and catalyst facilitating Portuguese passport acquisition Duarte Fernandes, on the other hand, stated they are yet to receive gazette notification. Therefore, the November 30, 2022 order is being followed wherein persons holding foreign nationality and seeking to renew their >Continued on P5 Billboard, metal tower collapse The billboard that collapsed on the petrol pump. PTI MUMBAI At least nine persons were killed and over 70 others injured on Monday in rain-related incidents in Mumbai wherein a 100-foot tall billboard fell on a petrol pump in Ghatkopar area while an under-construction metal tower collapsed on a road amid gusty winds in Wadala, officials said. The billboard, which was illegal according to civic officials, uprooted and fell on a petrol pump at the Cheddanagar Junction in Ghatkopar, killing eight people and injuring 70 others. “Seventy-eight people have MUMBAI-BOUND FLIGHTS DIVERTED TO GOA >> See pg 5 been pulled out so far from under the hoarding, of which eight are declared dead, while 70 others were injured. They were rushed to various hospitals,” a senior police officer said, adding that the search and rescue operation is underway at the spot. In Bandra, a branch of a tree fell on a shop, trapping two persons. “Of them, a 38-yearold died while another person was seriously injured,” a civic official said. >Continued on P5